What will this look like on WiiWare?
The third game in Konami's ReBirth series is a trip back to Dracula's castle
The ESRB has frequently revealed previously unknown games for WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare through its software ratings. Today's new ratings include perhaps the biggest reveal yet - a brand new Castlevania game for WiiWare! After Gradius and Contra, and Koji Igarashi's expressed interest in making a new classic-style Castlevania game, this was pretty much a given, but it's still a pleasant surprise to see it pop up like this.
Titled Castlevania the Adventure ReBirth, this will be a return to the series' roots, meaning rather than featuring the Metroid-esque gameplay of more recent titles, the game will once again be divided into separate platforming action stages.
Because of its title, we assume that it will be loosely based on Castlevania: The Adventure for the Game Boy, and that you'll once again play as Christopher Belmont (Simon's great-grandfather). The Adventure is generally regarded as one of the lesser games in the series, but it still featured some interesting, unique gameplay mechanics.
Of course, this also begs the question of what the game will look and sound like. Will it resemble the Game Boy/NES games or will it be closer to the SNES/Mega Drive games?
Although Konami has yet to officially announce the game, we fully expect them to soon. After all, the Tokyo Game Show is coming up, and they have already announced that they have some games to reveal there.
1. vakama94
13 Sep 2009, 15:34 BST
lol, some people were hoping for this game, and it turned out to be truth
2. A-SWE
13 Sep 2009, 15:34 BST
hmmmm this might make me actually buy a castlevania game
3. warioswoods
13 Sep 2009, 15:39 BST
Hooray; still waiting on Rondo of Blood for the VC, but I'll gladly take this for the time being.
Question:
"The ESRB has frequently revealed previously unknown games for WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare through its software ratings. "
What were the other ESRB announcements? I don't see a link.
4. rustythekid
13 Sep 2009, 15:40 BST
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WAAAAAAAAAAAAY
YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. Sneaker13
13 Sep 2009, 15:47 BST
Looking forward to it. Hope it will be good.
6. pixelman
13 Sep 2009, 15:47 BST
Hahahahaha. That is too awesome. <3 Konami. Can't wait for Metal Gear ReBirth.
7. Rum Rapture
13 Sep 2009, 15:50 BST
Awesome! I'm currently loving Harmony of Dissonance so this is great news!
8. Devil_Hunter_Dante
13 Sep 2009, 15:53 BST
That is cool. Not my favorite franchise but hey its a great one to have added to WiiWare !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9. stratocastx
13 Sep 2009, 15:53 BST
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
10. Hyper Luigi
13 Sep 2009, 15:54 BST
I'm not surprised by this news. Konami loves developing retro games on WiiWare. I'm VERY EXCITED, and this will be a day-one purchase for me! I bet this is going to be a 16-bit styled remake of Castlevania:The Adventure.
11. accc
13 Sep 2009, 16:02 BST
W000000000000000000000T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111
12. Digiki
13 Sep 2009, 16:02 BST
Ooh Castlevania <3
Awesome! I'm currently loving Harmony of Dissonance so this is great news!
If you love HoD, you'll most likely love the other much better metroidvania's : D
13. LEGEND MARIOID
13 Sep 2009, 16:04 BST
Lol. Steady, steady no swearing. I know you're excited and all, but....
Anyway, some ppl on here must be psychic or something, lol. I haven't wanted to play a Castlevania game since the SNES era. I may pick this one up depending on how it turns out decent.
14. Omega
13 Sep 2009, 16:07 BST
I knew it.
Still not sure what it could be exactly. "Castlevania: The Adventure"?! Sounds as if they plan to make a revival of the game "Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest" for WiiWare. (Perhaps without the many flaws the original game has.)
15. xesbeth
13 Sep 2009, 16:12 BST
Next: Salamander Rebirth.
16. Firkraag
13 Sep 2009, 16:12 BST
Great news, I love Castlevania!
17. Miyabi273
13 Sep 2009, 16:12 BST
Yes! Castlevania is my favorite game series so this is perfect!
18. Drake
13 Sep 2009, 16:14 BST
@warioswoods: Too many to list. Just think of all the random games which appeared on the ESRB without any prior announcement. Most of them haven't really been very big, but this one is!
And yeah, judging by trademark updates a while ago, Life Force/Salamander ReBirth will be next. I personally hope for Parodius after that.
19. P. D4NG3R
13 Sep 2009, 16:17 BST
"Rather than featuring the Metroid-esque gameplay of more recent titles, the game will once again be divided into seperate platforming action stages."
Fail.
20. Blue Protoman
13 Sep 2009, 16:19 BST
@Drake: Parodius Rebirth probably wouldn't come to America. D:
21. Drake
13 Sep 2009, 16:20 BST
@ Blue Protoman: Maybe they'll be nice just this once
22. Clinker
13 Sep 2009, 16:22 BST
Sparkster Rebirth!
23. Turbo Genesis 64
13 Sep 2009, 16:24 BST
I'm glad they are taking a break from the Metroidvania formula.
24. Mandoble
13 Sep 2009, 16:27 BST
Hope Castlevania will be like the MSX2 Konami original one. As well as Metalgear and Metalgear2 for MSX2, in both cases, far better than the nintendo portings.
25. Mama Luigi
13 Sep 2009, 16:31 BST
Oh yeah!
26. LinktotheFuture
13 Sep 2009, 16:39 BST
This is awesome. Personally, I hope it is more like the NES style.
27. Graph
13 Sep 2009, 16:44 BST
@P. D4NG3R:No, this is exactly what Casltevania is. Back to it's roots as it should be.
28. animagnum
13 Sep 2009, 16:45 BST
@xesbeth or maybe The Adventures of Bayou Billy: ReBirth!
I think that one would translate really well, actually.
29. -TR
13 Sep 2009, 16:49 BST
Good stuff. Keep it going, Konami.
30. Turkey Brutus
13 Sep 2009, 16:50 BST
Wow, this is a shock. And a welcome one. Looking forward to this.
31. Wesbert
13 Sep 2009, 16:53 BST
Well, there is really only one appropriate response...
YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!
<Stops jumping around and punching the air when neighbours start complaining>
Sorry.
Although I'm not really sure the 'Adventure' part necessarily means it'll be based on or related to the Gameboy Castlevania. They might just have chosen it to make it easier distinguishable from the recent Metroidvania titles.
32. SanderEvers
13 Sep 2009, 16:59 BST
Castlevenia on WiiWare..
WAIT? CASTLEVENIA ON WIIWARE?!
O MY GOD! That's an instant buy/download
33. fudgenuts
13 Sep 2009, 17:03 BST
I can't wait! I love Castlevania!
34. Terranigma
13 Sep 2009, 17:10 BST
Sweet. I knew this wouldd happen eventually. Konami loves us.
35. Atlantis1982
13 Sep 2009, 17:11 BST
I still haven't bothered buying the other three Castlevania games, the first being the only one I bought.
36. GabeGreens
13 Sep 2009, 17:19 BST
Soon to become the shortest Castlevania in its history...
I hope you are able to move in mid air, and jump while on stairs...
37. Egg miester
13 Sep 2009, 17:22 BST
i was expecting this after the other rebirth games castlevania is one of konami's biggest old series and with it being done by iga it is now my top wiiware game just tobad its not likely to be out this year
now if we can just get bloodlines and castlevania 64 my collection will be complete
38. Tony
13 Sep 2009, 17:27 BST
Instant Download and I have not even seen the screenshots!
39. Jave
13 Sep 2009, 17:37 BST
Awesome! Great choice for the Rebirth series!
40. ReZon
13 Sep 2009, 17:40 BST
I have been waiting patiently for this news... awesome!!
41. 13 Sep 2009, 17:41 BST
Ill skip this; never could get into castlevania but I tried. I like gradius though.
42. opeter
13 Sep 2009, 17:42 BST
This is really great news, cannot wait!
43. vherub
13 Sep 2009, 17:44 BST
cool, would think it looks like the snes, going gameboy would make more sense for the dsi (if at all)
44. bro2dragons
13 Sep 2009, 18:11 BST
i love me some castlevania. this may be the only rebirth game i download.
45. Bass X0
13 Sep 2009, 18:11 BST
I'll probably pass. I never did like the awkward jumping from the old games.
46. warioswoods
13 Sep 2009, 18:12 BST
@Drake
Oh, I just misread. For some stupid reason (early morning pre-coffee?), I thought you were saying that this announcement was one of several new revelations by the ESRB, but you were just referring to all the things that have been revealed this way in the past.
47. ReZon
13 Sep 2009, 18:21 BST
Here's the descriptor, just in case they take it down (which happens sometimes):
Castlevania the Adventure ReBirth
Platform: Wii
Rating: Teen
Content descriptors: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Rating summary: This is a side-scrolling action game in which players battle against monsters in Dracula's castle. Players use a chained whip to fight their way through halls and dungeons filled with zombies, skeletons, flying eyeballs, and bats. The enemy creatures frequently shoot projectiles and attack players in hand-to-hand combat. If players sustain too much damage, they keel over and emit a burst of red blood. Some rooms in the castle also have spikes or spears stained with red, blood-like splotches.
48. Klapaucius
13 Sep 2009, 18:33 BST
That Gameboy screenshot makes me want Nintendo to start releasing Gameboy games on VC or DSi even more ;_;
49. ShadowFlame76
13 Sep 2009, 18:59 BST
Yes, if they actually do release a classic style Castlevania game onto Wiiware it will be my first Wiiware game that i buy i love the classic Castlevania games (from NES & SNES), Too bad Castlevania Judgement turned out to be a mediocre fighter with an "unusual" art choice.
50. WolfRamHeart
13 Sep 2009, 19:27 BST
YES!!! My favorite video game franchise is coming to WiiWare!!!
51. Zork2
13 Sep 2009, 19:41 BST
I hope they fix the title.
52. Swerd_Murd
13 Sep 2009, 19:58 BST
God if they remix music from the original 2 GB games I'll be the happiest guy ever. Some of the finest music around on those games...especially stage 4 on the original and Cloud Castle from Belmont's revenge.
53. Nintendo-Naut
13 Sep 2009, 20:09 BST
I guess we'll see. The ReBirth games are turning out to be short. I'd like to see at least a semi-lengthy adventure.
54. SilentJ
13 Sep 2009, 20:29 BST
YESSSS!!! I would pre-order this if it were possible.
55. NintendoBrad
13 Sep 2009, 20:30 BST
Saw it coming from a mile away, but it's still great to see it confirmed.
Hopefully it will look and sound as good as Contra ReBirth.
First NewSMBWii, then Project Needlemouse, and now this... great stuff all around.
56. Tony
13 Sep 2009, 20:32 BST
I plan on downloading this 5 seconds after hits the Wii Shop channel.
57. bonham2
13 Sep 2009, 20:36 BST
Please include a save feature. That's my biggest problem with Contra ReBirth.
58. suburban_sensei
13 Sep 2009, 20:59 BST
Was never a huge Contra fan, so Contra Rebirth doesn't seem like something I would buy, but this sounds awesome.
59. Man with a hat
13 Sep 2009, 21:30 BST
Huzzah! wait, no roleplay-elements, Damn, still its a castlevania
60. vakama94
13 Sep 2009, 21:43 BST
what do they mean with "If players sustain too much damage, they keel over and emit a burst of red blood"?
61. JamieO
13 Sep 2009, 22:08 BST
In my eyes Konami pitched Gradius ReBirth and Contra ReBirth perfectly, both were so true to their respective franchises, that they were a real treat bit of fan service.
Those games took the concept of 16 bit visuals and sound, with just a few added bells and whistles, such as graphical effects that may not have been possible on the SNES or Mega Drive.
I would place my money on this 'Castlevania the Adventure ReBirth' being based mainly on SNES Castlevania IV, possibly with a hint of Mega Drive The New Generation/ Vampire Killer/ Bloodlines or if we are really lucky the PC Engine Super CD-Rom Dracula X: Rondo of Blood.
I feel as though Konami are making these ReBirth games just for me at the moment. They could not turn out any more ideally suited to my taste, even if I was at Konami's Japanese HQ with a huge A4 notebook wish list, including sketches and instructions for everything I wanted them to include. lol.
62. Digiki
13 Sep 2009, 23:00 BST
what do they mean with "If players sustain too much damage, they keel over and emit a burst of red blood"?
...they die, and blood pops out.
63. odd69
13 Sep 2009, 23:19 BST
Just please make it epic in size , push the wii to it's limits.
64. Link79
14 Sep 2009, 01:52 BST
Great news but why not remake a better Castlevania like Dracula's curse? The original gameboy game was awful. This better have more than five stages too. Hey Konami, Why not give us Rondo of blood while your at it? Americans are dying for it dammit!
65. ReZon
14 Sep 2009, 02:08 BST
Can't wait to see some screenshots...
66. buffalobob
14 Sep 2009, 02:13 BST
oh my god YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
67. Kevin
14 Sep 2009, 02:36 BST
Make one NES style and I'm golden but with game boy graphics and gameplay? No. I was disappointed when I saw it was the game boy line of castlevania games. Definately thought it was gonna be a 8-bit revival once I saw the title before the pic scrolled down afterward. I think they blew an opportunity to be honest.
68. touffeboy
14 Sep 2009, 02:42 BST
Good news Wiiware
69. vonseux
14 Sep 2009, 03:36 BST
i love konami now
70. vonseux
14 Sep 2009, 03:36 BST
i love konami now
71. Maniac
14 Sep 2009, 04:20 BST
HURRAY!
This is fantastic news!
Very very very excited.
72. Jockolantern
14 Sep 2009, 05:29 BST
Words cannot express how giddy this news makes me. Konami... I love you guys so much right now.
73. morphballer
14 Sep 2009, 05:54 BST
I CALLED IT!
74. Devastator
14 Sep 2009, 08:27 BST
I hope it is out by Christmas.
75. D00M
14 Sep 2009, 09:10 BST
Castlevania won't be the same without Michiru Yamane
76. Bass X0
14 Sep 2009, 10:01 BST
Not the same maybe but I think they can do something just as good.
77. Damo
14 Sep 2009, 10:54 BST
A lot of people seem to be assuming that this is going to be a straight remake of the (pretty poor) Game Boy original. Aside from the rather clumsy title, we've seen nothing to indicate that this will actually be the case.
I'm guessing that the core story will remain but the rest of of the game will be retooled entirely, with new levels, enemies, music, etc. In fact, I'd put money on this having very little in common with The Castlevania Adventure, aside from its name.
Better still, the game might include elements from other titles, hopefully the second GB Castlevania. Let's not forget that Gradius ReBirth was a glorious mixture of 8 and 16-bit Gradius elements. This could be the same.
78. Kirk
14 Sep 2009, 11:05 BST
I much prefer good stage based design over these large sprawling maps where you can often get lost and not know what you are supposed to be doing next, especially if you haven't played the game for a while.
It's one of main reasons I rarely play the likes of Zelda/Castlevania/Metroid games for more than a couple of hours at most, and then never really play the games again, because at some point I inevitably get lost and frustrated and just can't be bothered playing the game any more.
It's why I will always prefer the level based structure of game like Mario/Contra/Goldeneye etc.
79. That Guy from Faxanadu
14 Sep 2009, 12:56 BST
Hopefully the new game will just be a retelling of the Castlevania Adventure story. Because the game itself is actually quite bad. The game features very few of the trademark enemies and overall it lacks Castlevania atmosphere. There are only 4 stages, and the power-up system seems to be borrowed from the Goemon series.
Well, Konami can´t fail if they aim at making the game better than the original
Regarding titles, Europe has 3 different games simply named Castlevania (NES, GBA, PS2) so the name Castlevania Adventure Rebirth doesn´t have to indicate anything at all...
80. Adam
14 Sep 2009, 15:47 BST
Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth? Please think of a better title. Please.
81. Rapadash6
15 Sep 2009, 15:29 BST
I'm a huge fan of the series but not the Adventure games so much. Hopefully if it is a remake of the Game Boy original, it's a Metroid Zero Mission quality remake, as in it's so different that it's only the same game in name only. Hopefully we'll get to see and hear more on this game soon.
82. Roebuck
02 Oct 2009, 18:03 BST
I must have this.
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